Concerns emerged on social media that some buses, reportedly intended to transport Malawian nationals back to Malawi, were allegedly dropping passengers in parts of Johannesburg.
Responding to the claims, Kubayi said authorities would investigate the allegations and establish what had transpired.
“We have checked information. The buses were done outside government and IMC (Inter-Ministerial Committee) site. All buses that departed being processed by government are escorted until they cross the border by law enforcement. None of those buses have dropped people inland South Africa,” Kubayi said.
She added that government had dispatched teams to investigate the matter.
“We are sending teams to the area to get the person responsible for the commissioning of the buses but to also process the individuals through government process.”
Kubayi described reports of foreign nationals being transported and abandoned at various locations as both unlawful and inhumane.
“Yesterday when KZN got same report of individuals/organisations putting foreign nationals in buses and dropping them at various venues. This is inhumane and unlawful. Full communication on the matter will be issued once all information has been gathered,” she said.
The minister recently visited the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) site at the Durban Drive-In in KwaZulu-Natal to assess progress in the repatriation of Malawian nationals.
On Friday, the IMC on Migration also conducted an oversight visit to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp to assess operations and engage stakeholders on migration management.
While government has intensified deportation efforts, Kubayi acknowledged that several challenges continue to hamper the process.
Following the visit to Lindela, she said one of the biggest obstacles was obtaining cooperation from foreign governments to verify the nationality of undocumented foreign nationals.
“We require their embassies and their countries to confirm their nationality. We have received reports that some countries are not responding,” she said.
Kubayi identified Ethiopia and Nigeria among the countries where authorities have experienced delays and said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation had been asked to intervene.
Saturday Star